Reem's Diary: Singapore set for another smash-hit showdown

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  • Tennis destination: Singapore has received a thumbs up from players and fans.

    There was some understandable scepticism before the first staging of the WTA Finals in Singapore last year.

    For a tournament that changes location every few seasons, the year-end championships were coming to South East Asia for the first time and following a successful stint in Istanbul, it was unclear how the event was going to be received in Singapore.

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    But from the moment the draw ceremony started it was clear it was going to be a big hit.

    The crowds showed up, the organisation was smooth and everyone involved, from the players to the sponsors to the spectators, gave it a thumbs-up.

    The early signs of this second edition here have also been positive.

    Singapore shares multiple similarities with Dubai in that it is home to a large mix of nationalities and is a popular tourist destination.

    Luxury brand malls and fine dining are two of the country’s best features, which explains why the draw ceremony was held, in public, in the centre of the fancy Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

    Tennis fans and random shoppers alike turned up for the draw and some even got the chance to ask the players some questions directly.

    That’s definitely not something you get anywhere else.

    A 10-year-old asked Maria Sharapova what flavour of her Sugarpova candy would she create specifically for Singapore.

    Unfortunately the world No3 did not have a PG-rated answer and said it would probably be a Singapore Sling, referring to the famous beverage associated with the city. Spoken like a true Russian.

    American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who is in the doubles field playing alongside Lucie Safarova, was asked by another fan how often she changed her hair colour and whether she had any regrets on some of her bolder choices.

    “My natural hair colour blonde, I’ve been pink, purple, aqua, blue, green, orange, so that’s six and I’m going back to blonde, so seven. I haven’t regretted any of them, I think my favourite one was when I was blue and green because it was the only time I had like a dual hairdo,” said Mattek-Sands.

    All the players were in good spirits leading up to opening day on Sunday which made for a fun All Access Hour on Saturday.

    Doubles world No1 Sania Mirza was asked about her husband Shoaib Malik’s recent century-scoring form as he came back to the Pakistan Test action in sensational fashion.

    “The biggest difference for us is that he plays a team sport, which has 11 people. I always say to him ‘you can blame each other all the time’,” Mirza said laughing, as she sat next to her partner Martina Hingis. “But it’s tough for me to blame her (Martina). No, I’m just kidding.

    “Obviously we try and push each other, me and Shoaib. But it’s great that he’s doing so well.  He came back in the Test team after five years. To make a double century, it was incredible at any time, but at the time he did.

    “It’s tough to have two athletes playing at the highest level in their sports, competing. We’re playing in very emotionally charged sports all the time.

    “We have some disagreements as well,” she chuckles. “But, no, I’m so happy for him, that he’s doing well. Yeah, it’s been a great year for our family.”

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